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FORT SHAFTER Aca,!" Out of 10,000 entries, Lisa Roman, wife of Capt. Joe Roman, strategic plans officer, 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, was chosen as the winner of the ultimate dessert recipe during the Food NetworkAca,!a,,cs Ultimate Recipe Showdown, Sunday.
She will be awarded $25,000, and her award-winning recipe, called Baby Cakes, will be featured in T.G.I. FridayAca,!a,,cs restaurants nationwide.
It all began a year ago when her husband was deployed and she began watching television more than usual, Lisa said.
Aca,!A"I saw a show on the Food Network called Aca,!EoeUltimate Recipe Showdown,Aca,!a,,cAca,!A? Lisa explained. Aca,!A"During the show, at the bottom of the screen, they were asking for new recipes and to log on to the Food Network to enter an original recipe if you had one. So I did. Simple as that.Aca,!A?
Eventually, she was chosen as one of four finalists and flown to New York for the show. During the competition, finalists were required to prepare their original recipes on camera and then have their products judged.
Her husband accompanied her to New York for support.
Aca,!A"It was nice that he was in the audience supporting me. The tables kind of turned because normally I am at home supporting him, so it was great,Aca,!A? Lisa said.
Lisa said her experiences as an Army wife helped her through the competition.
Aca,!A"There are definitely worse things and harder circumstances in the world than being in this competition, and IAca,!a,,cve been through those things,Aca,!A? she said. Aca,!A"Being an Army wife is like being in a special club. It comes with responsibility and an understanding that a non-Army wife wouldnAca,!a,,ct understand, especially if youAca,!a,,cve been through a deployment or stood by your husband at a funeral.Aca,!A?
Lisa has been married to Joe for a little more than a year. Six weeks into their marriage, Joe deployed to Iraq. A nice twist, now she is looking forward to celebrating the prize money with her husband.
Aca,!A"I am a newlywed, so $25,000 is a great way to start off a new marriage and having something on the menu at a restaurant is quite an honor,Aca,!A? she said.
EditorAca,!a,,cs Note: Food Network News Releases were used for this article.